Not everyone realizes that the Village of Warwick received the rare Historic District designation from both New York State and the National Registry in 1984. This recognition is a testament to the efforts of a devoted group of early Historical Society members who, beginning in 1906, began generously donating both their time and money to purchase, save and restore some of the oldest and most beautiful buildings in the village. Many of the buildings saved by the early Society members were done so completely at their own expense and were later donated to the Warwick Historical Society. Fast...

The Warwick Historical Society and Foundation of St. Anthony Community Hospital are joining together to present An Afternoon to Remember— the largest tented formal tea party ever staged in Warwick. Since a cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage—part of the day’s events will include a trip back in time when formal garden tea parties and grand sea voyages were commonplace. In homage to this tradition— beginning at noon on May 5th— guests will register at the A.W. Buckbee Center where they will receive a “Passport Journal” and enjoy a Grand Tour of five Historical Society museums. Each...

Clinton Wheeler Wisner (1856-1904), Mayor of the Village for three terms, was credited with the restoration of Warwick’s natural charm with tree and flower planting, installing sidewalks, as well as his architectural contribution in designing two fire houses, a church, the Red Swan Inn, the railroad station, the cemetery gates and several residences. On Sunday afternoon, February 24, at 4:00 pm Warwick Town Historian Dr. Richard Hull and Village Historian Jean Beattie May will present a program on the Wisner Family, one of Warwick’s very first families to settle in Warwick in 1713. It will...

The other day, I asked to take a peek into the mysterious climate controlled, closed off room on the lower level of the A.W. Buckbee Center and Warwick Historical Society headquarters (formerly the Albert Wisner Public Library). I had been hearing more and more about the special Clothing Collection kept there and the great amount of effort being put into it. Anything that has kept the full attention of a group of five volunteers for over a decade had to be pretty good. What I found was far beyond my expectations. I walked into a room filled with over 1000 dresses, men’s suits, children’s...

From the time that George Washington marched up the King’s Highway from Philadelphia to Newburgh, Warwick has always been a welcoming destination point for travelers in need of food, drink and a warm bed for the night. Indeed there are receipts that attest to the General’s patronage of our own Baird’s Tavern which, since preserved by The Warwick Historical Society over the past 20 years, looks today much as it did 250 years ago to a weary traveler. At that time, Baird’s Tavern did a brisk business due to the importance of the well-traveled crossroads on which it stands. The popularity of...

Posted by Alex on Apr 10, 2010 in News and Press | Comments Off on OSBMH Gets Heat and Air

WARWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY INSTALLS HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING IN OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST MEETING HOUSE Since it was built in 1810, the Old School Baptist Meeting House in Lewis Park, Warwick, NY has been without central heating. A system of coal-burning stoves was installed early on, but removed in 1952 when ownership of the building was transferred to the Society. A major renovation began then and the old coal bins and chimneys were taken out. Since that day, while a popular venue for weddings in warmer months, the Community Christmas Sing Along was the only scheduled winter event. Now,...